Hey thrill-seekers, are you ready to rock and roll? Well, it’s time to hop on board Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Featuring Aerosmith at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!
It’s one of the most thrilling attractions in the park, featuring a unique theming concept that allows you to rock out to Aerosmith tunes while experiencing high-speed drops and loops.
This ride isn’t for everyone, but it’s definitely worth a spin if you’re looking for a heart-pounding adventure.
If you’ve been wondering things like Is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster scary? and other common questions, this post is for you!
In this post I’ll go over what the ride is like, best time to ride, health and safety restrictions, accessibility accommodations, and more.
Is Rock n Roller Coaster scary?
Well, that’s a subjective question, but I’ll do my best to lay out all the things about a ride that can make it scary so you can determine if it’ll be too scary for you.
Right off the bat, you’ll be launched from 0 to 57 miles per hour in just a few seconds while experiencing several loops, a corkscrew, and plenty of drops.
Due to the loops and corkscrew, it uses over-the-shoulder restraints that might make some people feel claustrophobic. So if that is a concern of yours, you may want to skip it.
The indoor thrill ride was built by Walt Disney Imagineers and Vekoma Ride Manufacturing, which is know for building super smooth coasters, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle Power Run. They are also leaders in the industry when it comes to safety (source).
In my opinion, how smoothly a coaster rides can make or break it in terms of enjoyability and thrill or scare factor. And of course, knowing that they adhere by strict safety standards is comforting.
Compared to other Disney World attractions, Rock n Roller Coaster is definitely one of the most intense rides and may be too scary for some guests, even those who are fans of other roller coasters at Disney World, like Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
If you’re not a fan of roller coasters in general, this ride will probably be too scary for you.
But if you’re looking for a thrilling adventure, then put on your brave face, buckle up, and get ready to rock!
Does Rock n Roller Coaster go upside down?
Yes, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster goes upside down three times via one corkscrew and two loops. It’s super intense but in my opinion, a ton of fun!
The ride is in near-complete dark, which could make it more scary for some since they can’t anticipate this part coming.
On the other hand, barely being able to see something might help you focus on being in the moment rather than working yourself up over what’s coming.
For me, I think the dark helps me enjoy this coaster more than if it were outside because I’d probably work myself up knowing that the upside down portion was coming!
Just be sure to secure your bag by placing it in the pocket in front of you or zipping your bag shut and looping it around one foot.
Last time I went on this ride, I had to remind a friend to roll up his unzippable bag and step through the handle as he had just thrown it in front of his feet. Yikes!
How fast does Rock n Roller Coaster go?
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster goes up to almost 60 mph. In fact, when it launches, it gets up to 57 mph in less than 3 seconds! That’s pretty fast!!
When I first rode Rock n Roller Coaster, this was the element that made me fear the ride a little bit. Yeah – not the fact that it went upside down but the speed!
I remember on one trip, my family and I were at Hollywood Studios on a rainy day.
My mom took my niece back to our hotel and my sister and I decided to stay an knock out some rides. We ended up going on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster several times in a row.
I’d like to say it was because there were no lines. However, it’s mainly because the ridiculously fast launch kept making me pull the most atrocious faces.
Meanwhile, my sister looked cool as a cucumber. I wanted a good pic, but I did not succeed.
It’s taken many more rides to control my face better on launch. Maybe some day I’ll be brave enough to share the resulting photos, but for now I’ll pretend they’re lost!
How long is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster?
The ride itself is one minute and 22 seconds long, but the queue line can take up to an hour or more, especially during peak seasons.
But don’t worry, there are plenty of props and decorations to keep you entertained while you wait.
I think it’s important to know how long a potentially scary ride is because you can just tell yourself it’ll be over quickly!
Then again, everyone has their limits of how much they can take and for how long, so you can use this information to help judge whether you can tolerate this ride or not.
Accessibility accommodations
Guests in ECVs must transfer to a wheelchair before riding.
In addition, guests in a wheelchair must transfer into the ride on their own or with assistance of their party. Cast members are not allowed to assist with this.
As always, if you have any concerns about accessibility, don’t hesitate to speak with a cast member. They are always super helpful and knowledgable on making sure guests needs are met.
Health and safety restrictions
Yes, there are a few health and safety restrictions to keep in mind.
This ride is not recommended for those who are pregnant, have heart or back problems, or suffer from motion sickness.
Additionally, guests must be at least 48 inches tall to ride.
Lastly, due to the restraints on this ride, some plus size passengers might not be able to ride.
There aren’t any test seats outside of the building, so if you are unsure whether the restraints will fit safely, you’ll need to wait in line and give it a try first.
I wish Disney would add some test seats to help passengers determine if the wait is worth it for them.
Is rider switch available?
Yes, Rider Switch is available for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
If you have a little one who doesn’t meet the height requirement or is too scared to go on, you can still ride while they hang out with someone else in your party.
Simply ask a Cast Member about the Rider Switch program, and they’ll explain how it works and have your second party stand to the side while the first party rides.
What are the Rock n Roller Coaster songs?
OK, so at this point you’re thinking about braving this roller coaster, so now it’s time to pump you up!
One of my favorite elements of this ride is that it’s set to music from the iconic rock band, Aerosmith.
Each ride will play a different Aerosmith song or a remix of several songs.
The songs featured on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster are:
- Back in the Saddle and Dude (Looks Like a Lady) remix
- Love in an Elevator and Walk This Way remix
- Nine Lives
- Sweet Emotion
- What Kind of Love Are You On?
- Young Lust, F.I.N.E., and Love in an Elevator remix
Is the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster getting a new theme?
Rumors about a re-theme have plagued this ride for years, particularly in early 2023 when this ride had an extended refurbishment.
Allegedly Aerosmith was going to be removed and a new band was going to sponsor the ride. However, that did not happen.
As of right now, Disney has not announced that this ride will be re-themed with a new band. But if I’m being honest, I wouldn’t mind it if they did!
I like Aerosmith, but a new band, or a mix of songs from different bands like on Cosmic Rewind, would be welcome, in my opinion.
Is there a ride photo?
Yes, there is a ride photo available for purchase. It’s taken toward the beginning of the ride when it goes from 0 to 57 mph in under 3 seconds. So as you can imagine, it captures quite the variety of silly faces!
If you use Genie+, your ride photo will be included for free and will be automatically added to your My Disney Experience account automatically, as long as you are wearing a MagicBand for it to detect your presence.
Can I use Genie+ or Lightning Lane?
Yes, you can use Genie+ to reserve a spot on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and I definitely recommend it.
However, keep in mind that this ride is one of the most popular in the park, so you may want to book your reservation early in the day.
Best time to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
The best time to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is early in the morning or during Fantasmic!, when crowd levels are low or preoccupied with other popular attractions.
Lines can get pretty long during peak seasons, so try to ride it as soon as the park opens or during the last few hours of the day when crowds start to die down.
Alternatively, I’ve always found Hollywood Studios to have low crowds during rainy days.
One time my sister and I rode this ride about 5 times in a row with barely any wait all because it had started raining toward the end of the day!
Where to find Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You can find at the end of the Sunset Boulevard area of the park, across from the Hollywood Tower Hotel.
There’s a giant red guitar on the outside of the building, so it’s pretty easy to find!
Lastly, some of you may have heard that there was a second version at Walt Disney Studios Park in Disneyland Paris.
Unfortunately the Paris location of this ride closed in 2019 and was replaced in 2021 by Avengers Assemble: Flight Force.
Are you ready to ride Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster?
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is definitely not for the faint of heart, but it’s a must-ride attraction for thrill-seekers visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Whether you’re a fan of Aerosmith or just looking for an adrenaline rush, this ride will deliver.
Don’t forget to check out the ride photo and use the Rider Switch program if needed. And most importantly, have fun and don’t forget to scream!
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About the author
Meg Frost is the creator of The Park Pixie, where she covers Disney World, Disney+, and Disney fandom.
She holds an M.A. in Journalism from Northeastern University and B.S. in Communication & American Studies from University of Miami in Florida.
This post was originally published June 27, 2023. It was last updated October 12, 2023.
